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Sun, sand and the sea in India - North Kerala

mahesh

The Indian peninsula hosts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. In addition, the beaches offer a unique perspective into the life of the communities that reside by the sea.

Today, we visit the sandy shores hosted by North Kerala on the Western Coast of the Indian sub-continent.

Kerala boasts of a 550 kilometre long coastline, with dense groves of coconut palms greeting the winds from the Arabian Sea. The beaches in Northern Kerala have headlands rising above the shores from the fringes of the beaches. These highlands were the vantage points on which the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British build forts. Today these forts provide some of the best views of the Kerala coastline.

These are some of the best beaches of North Kerala.

Kanwatheertha Beach, Kasaragod

(Photo from: http://www.joyalholidays.com/kanwatheertha-beach/)

Kanwatheertha beach is situated in the Kasaragod district, at a distance of 5 km from north of Manjeshwar railway station. This place offers panoramic views of Arabian Sea. The luscious coconut groves on the beach give the beach a lush green cover.

The huge pond close to the sea which is called ‘Kanwa Thirtha’ is a source of pristine water. Kanwatheertha Beach has never-ending miles of beaches basked in sunrays, with the tall palm trees dancing alongside.

Thaikadappuram Beach, Kasaragod

(Photo from: http://www.winmaxitravels.com/thaikadappuram_beach.php)

Situated in the beautiful town near Nileshwar in Kasaragod district, Thaikadappuram is a gorgeous beach that is known for offering a wonderful view of the sunset. The scenic setting makes it a delightful place for tourists and locals.

The Olive Ridley Turtles that lay eggs here in the monsoon are also one of the main attractions of this beach. Quiet and beautiful, Thaikadappuram beach is apt for those who are looking for some solace

Kappil Beach, Kasaragod

For those who love to take things a bit easy, the secluded and relatively unexplored Kappil Beach should prove idyllic. Remote and secluded, this beach is fast becoming a major tourist attraction.

The Kodi Cliff nearby offers a panoramic view of the Arabian Sea and 2 kilometres away is the Pallikunnam Temple. The beach is situated about 6 kilometres from Bekal Fort.

Bekal Beach, Kasaragod

(Photo from: http://bekaltourpackages.in/)

Situated next to Bekal Fort, this is a beautiful beach and it looks as if right out of a painting at the sunset time with fishermen dragging their boats out of the sea and Bekal Fort overlooking the sun setting next to it.

Relatively less known among tourists, this is less crowded and you can sit peacefully and enjoy the views of waves thumping against the walls of fort. Quite peaceful and relaxing, we will say and worth visiting.

Hosdurg Beach, Kasaragod

Located at a distance of 23 kilometres south of Kasaragod, Hosdurg beach is a wide strip of sand lining up along the side of the Kanhangad town, also known by the name Hosdurg. During the nesting season (after the month of October), a large number of turtles can be seen frequent in the vast stretch of golden sand.

Payyambalam Beach, Kannur

(Photo from: http://tourmet.com/payyambalam-beach/)

Payyambalam Beach is a perfect spot to unwind and relax. The beach offers some of the best sunset views in the country. One of the major attraction of this beach is a majestic sculpture of a child and his mother by renowned artist Kanayi Kunhiraman.

Muzhappilangad Beach, Kannur

Kerala’s only drive-in beach, the Muzhappilangad beach which stretches across four kilometres of sand where one can drive down the entire length. This beach is the longest Drive-In Beach in India .The drive is ideal for sampling the famed Malabar cuisine from the many eateries in the immediate hinterland. Black rocks protect this long, clean beach from the currents of the deep, making its shallow waters a swimmer’s paradise.

Adventure sports like paragliding, parasailing and micro-light flights are possible at the beach. Other attractions include water sports, power boating or a simple catamaran ride.

Kozhikode Beach, Kozhikode

Kozhikode Beach is a favourite haunt of sunset viewers, it is also a good place for trying out seafood delicacies like kallumekaya (mussels), available at the numerous stalls lining the promenade. At dawn, a walk along Dolphin’s Point will reward you with a sight of playful dolphins.

Adding to its natural beauty is the old world charm retained by the old lighthouse and the two crumbling piers that run into the sea, each more than a hundred years old.

Thikkoti Lighthouse, Kozhikode

The area near Thikkoti Lighthouse is soaked in the natural beauty of lush green coconut & palm plantation with Velliyamkally Rock on one side and scintillating blue sea on the other. It was built over a shipwreck, whose remains can still be seen here.

The lighthouse was constructed in 1847 and is 33.5 meters high. One can go up to the top of the lighthouse to enjoy the awesome view of the Arabian Sea and Velliyamkally Rock, which acts as a home to many varieties of migrant birds. However, to go up there, one has to take permission from authorities to climb the winding stairs of the lighthouse.

Kappad beach, Kozhikode

This is the beach where Vasco Da Gama first landed in India. Kappakkadavu or Kappad beach is one beautiful beach set in the famed city of Calicut or Kozhikode. Today Kappad is amongst the favourite beaches for locals and tourists due to its immaculate and scenic beauty.

It was the spices and wealth of Malabar that first brought the Arabs, the Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Portuguese, the Dutch and the English to Kerala. Kappad has witnessed many such landings.

To the tourist, this little seafaring town is a haven. The best route to Kappad is along the backwaters. Unspoilt and uncrowded, the picturesque backwaters of Kozhikode offer a bewitching experience. A ride down the backwaters through the Korappuzha River brings you to the beach.

Kizhunna beach, Kozhikode

Located about 11 km from Kannur is the Kizhunna Beach. This beautiful stretch of sand is one of the most secluded beaches in Kerala. Often mentioned as Kizhunna Ezhara beach, the twin beaches of Kizhunna and Ezhara lie side by side.

The beach strip is filled with black rocks and crimson coloured riffs. Almost all the areas of the beach are protected so that tourists can enjoy to their hearts’ content. During the evening hours and on weekends, this beach is overcrowded with visitors. One of the best features of this beach is that, its beauty has remained unspoilt, because it is relatively less travelled to, when compared to other beaches of Kerala.

Kolavi Palam beach, Kozhikode

(Photo from: http://www.chaliyarresorts.com/kolavi-beach.html)

Kolavi Beach is also known as Kolavi Palam Beach which is located at the south of the Murad River at a very short distance of 4 km from Kottakal. The Kolavi Beach that is a stretch of golden sands, with shallow waters, which border Velliyamkallu, is a haven to Olive Ridley turtles.

Providing a close bond with the aquatic life for beachgoers, the Kolavi Palm Beach in Payyoli is another pristine and secluded beach in Kerala that makes a niche beachscape. This beach is natural breeding place of Oliver Ridley turtle. During November and December hordes of the endangered Olive Ridley turtle come to lay eggs.

Beypore beach, Kozhikode

(Photo from: https://www.keralatourism.org/destination/beypore/318)

Beypore is a small village situated at the mouth of Chaliyar River, at a distance of 10 km to the south of the Kozhikode town. This village was popular as a centre for shipbuilding, meeting the demands of the merchants from Western Asia and mainly constructed traditional ships like the Uru or Arabian trading vessel. The 1500 year old tradition of shipbuilding is still carried on by the locals.

The charming beach is just like a treasure of peace and tranquillity with its picturesque atmosphere, wide stretches of golden sands and fascinating coconut trees; swaying tenderly in the cool breeze. This beach is pristine and perfect for a quiet escapade.